Pretty glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers - How to make

Today I'm sharing how to make magical glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers. These pretty luminaries are perfect for lighting up summer and autumn evenings indoors or out! If you are looking for DIY party decorating ideas, these glass jar lanterns will make a lovely table decoration. Hang them up outside in the trees as rustic wedding or birthday party decorations. It's an easy craft for adults and children alike.

It's no secret that I love lanterns in every shape or form. In my opinion, no room is complete without the subtle glow of candlelight! Now and again, I make my own lanterns, like these beautiful pressed flower lanterns.

These glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers are cheap and easy to make. All you need are some old jars (Jam jars/yoghurt jars/Mason jars or any sort of food jars) and some pressed flowers and you're ready to go. Place these luminaries on your dining or coffee table, or make hangers and hang them up in the garden. They will add a bit of Autumn magic on your porch when the evenings start drawing in.

Table of contents

• Glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers
• Shop the post
• Making glass jar luminaries
• How to seal pressed flowers
• How to make a lantern handle
• Wire heart decoration for luminaries
• Save it for later!
• These posts are good too!
• Wait!

Glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers

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Materials

• Glass jars
• Pressed flowers | USA | UK | DE |
• Paper Heart shape
• Scissors
• Mod Podge or any craft glue which dries translucent
• Sticky Tape
• Paintbrush
• Tweezers
• Silver florist's wire (if hanging)
• Pliers (optional)
• Tea lights
• or LED tea lights

Shop the post

Making glass jar luminaries

Update: I recommend that you look at my step-by-step flower pressing tutorial before you start this project. The tutorial has lots of tips and tricks for beginners in flower pressing.

Instructions

First, we're going to tape the heart shape to the glass jar. The heart will be our pattern, and we're going to add the dried flowers around it.

Once the heart shape is in place on the glass jar, we can add a dab of craft glue to the glass. Using the paintbrush, we can distribute the glue around the heart.

Next, we can start adding some of our pressed flowers around the heart shape. Be careful - the pressed flowers are very delicate and can easily fall apart. I find it's best to use tweezers to attach the pressed flowers to the glass jar.

If you don't fancy pressing flowers yourself, you can buy all kinds of ready pressed flowers here – USA | UK | DE.

Keep adding craft glue and flowers to the glass jar until you are happy with your design.

Remove the heart shape from the glass jar and set it aside to dry.

How to seal pressed flowers

The glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers need sealing so that we can use them outdoors. To seal our luminaries, we will paint another layer of craft glue over the pressed flowers. It's as easy as that!

How to make a lantern handle

Whether indoors or outside, our glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers will need a handle so that we can hang them up.

To make a handle, take the silver florist's wire and twist it around the top of the glass jar lantern a few times and tie it off.

Next, take another length of the florist's wire and twist it underneath the wire that you just attached to the rim of the lantern. Bring the wire over to the opposite side of the glass jar lantern and (leaving a loop for the handle) tie it off on that side.

To make the wire handle on your glass jar lanterns thicker, all you need to do is twist some more wire around the handle loop.

TIP: Adding ribbon around the top of the glass jar lanterns will make it look even prettier. Add the ribbon before you attach the wire.

Wire heart decoration for luminaries

To finish off, you could make this pretty wire heart for your glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers.

I was able to twist the wire with my hands and used pliers to squash the ends tightly together. A pair of scissors will also do if you don't have pliers. Twist some of the florist's wire into a heart shape and finish with a hook. Hang the wire heart onto the top of your glass lantern – Finished!

That's how to make glass jar lanterns with pressed flowers!

Now, your pretty glass jar lanterns are all finished! Pop a tea light or small candle inside and you have some pretty decorations for your home or DIY party decorations for any occasion.

TIP: Why not try using pressed leaves instead of flowers for DIY Autumn decorations?

How will you use your glass jar lanterns (AKA luminaries)?

Save it for later!

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